The Empowered Grief Journey

Live Free and Hike: Linda Magoon on Divorce Recovery, Nature Therapy, and Finding Yourself Again

In this inspiring episode of The Empowered Grief Journey Podcast, host Chris Mamone sits down with author and speaker Linda Magoon to talk about what it really looks like to rebuild your life after a painful ending—and how nature can become a powerful path to healing.
After leaving a 25-year toxic marriage, Linda chose an unexpected kind of “post-divorce therapy”: she set a goal to hike all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks—an intense challenge known for steep elevation gain, rugged terrain, and unpredictable mountain weather (including the legendary conditions on Mount Washington). Along the way, she rediscovered her strength, resilience, and a sense of freedom she didn’t know she’d lost.
Linda shares how shame, fear, finances, and stigma can keep people stuck in unhealthy situations—and how taking one brave step at a time can lead to profound transformation. She also discusses her book, Live Free and Hike: Finding Grace on 48 Summits, and why the outdoors can support emotional and mental well-being in ways traditional healing tools sometimes can’t.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
Leaving a long-term toxic relationship and starting over
The emotional weight of shame, stigma, and fear around divorce
Why hiking became Linda’s “therapy” and turning point
The mental and emotional lessons hidden inside hard climbs
Finding grace, resilience, and freedom through the healing power of nature
If you’re navigating grief after divorce, identity loss, or a major life transition, this conversation will remind you: your ending can become your beginning—and healing can start with one step.

Pet Loss & the Afterlife | Rob Gutro on Signs From Pets, Mediumship, and Grief Healing

In this episode of The Empowered Grief Journey Podcast, host Chris Mamone sits down with Rob Gutro—award-winning author, paranormal investigator, retired meteorologist, and pet medium—for a powerful conversation about pet loss grief, the afterlife, and the real-life signs our animals can send after they pass.
Rob shares the story of his dog Buzz, the loss that reawakened his mediumship abilities, and the early signs that changed everything—including meaningful songs that played unexpectedly and a striking physical validation at the vet that confirmed Buzz was still present and okay.
Together, Chris and Rob explore:
What it means when people receive signs from pets in spirit
Common ways pets communicate after passing (music, energy, physical signs, intuition)
The difference between spirits vs. ghosts and why that matters
How Rob’s science background explains spiritual communication through energy
Why grief can heighten sensitivity—and how to stay grounded
How to ask for a sign (without forcing it) and trust what you receive
If you’ve ever wondered, “Is my pet still with me?” or you’re navigating the heartbreak of losing a beloved animal companion, this episode offers both comfort and clarity—blending compassion, lived experience, and practical insight into the mysteries of connection beyond death.

Repressed Grief & the Loss of a First Love: Ashley Jordan on Healing After Childhood Trauma

In this deeply moving episode of The Empowered Grief Journey Podcast, host Chris Mamone sits down with award-winning journalist and author Ashley Jordan to talk about a kind of grief many people experience—but rarely name: the loss of a first love in childhood and the long-term impact of unprocessed grief.
Ashley shares the story of Daniel—her childhood sweetheart—who was killed in a sudden accident just days before her 13th birthday. With no emotional tools or support system to help her process the trauma, she did what many people are taught to do: shut down, “suck it up,” and keep going. Years later, an unexpected trigger cracked the grief back open—and changed everything.
Together, Chris and Ashley explore:
What it’s like to lose someone deeply significant at a young age
How repressed grief can return later in life (even decades later)
The emotional cost of becoming an “unhappy achiever” to outrun pain
Why grief is connected to love, presence, and emotional aliveness
How healing can include witnessing, meaning-making, and allowing the pain to move
Ashley also shares her book, The Unhappy Achiever: Rejecting the Good Girl Image and Reclaiming the Joy of Inner Fulfillment, and how her grief journey shaped the message behind it.
If you’ve ever felt grief resurface years after a loss—or you’ve carried a quiet heartbreak you never fully processed—this episode will help you feel seen and remind you: you’re not broken. Your grief is asking to be honored.

Creativity as a Path Through Grief | Jenny Leigh Hodgins on Burnout, Loss & Emotional Healing

In this heartfelt episode of The Empowered Grief Journey Podcast, host Chris Mamone welcomes creative empowerment coach, musician, educator, and author Jenny Leigh Hodgins for a deeply meaningful conversation about grief, creativity, and rediscovering purpose after loss.
Drawing from more than 30 years in music education and nearly four decades of Buddhist practice, Jenny shares how creativity becomes a powerful tool for navigating grief, burnout, and major life transitions. Together, Chris and Jenny explore how courage, self-compassion, and creative expression help us reconnect with ourselves when life changes everything.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
How grief and creativity are deeply connected
Why emotional expression is an act of courage — not weakness
Healing burnout through creative flow and self-compassion
The role of mindfulness and Buddhist practice in grief recovery
Reclaiming identity after loss and life transition
How music, art, and storytelling support emotional healing
This conversation is especially powerful for anyone experiencing grief, creative burnout, identity shifts, or feeling disconnected from their purpose. Jenny reminds us that creativity isn’t reserved for artists — it’s a human pathway back to wholeness.
Grief may change your life, but it can also reconnect you to your most authentic voice.
Connect with Jenny Leigh:
Website:
https://www.YourCreativeChord.com
Podcast:
https://www.YourCreativeChord.com/podcast
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@yourcreativechord
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyleighhodgins
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/YourCreativeChord
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/yourcreativechord

How to Navigate the First Year of Grief | Megan Malick on Loss, Life Transitions & Practical Healing

In this powerful episode of The Empowered Grief Journey Podcast, host Chris Mamone sits down with author, speaker, and grief facilitator Megan Malick to explore what it truly means to make space for grief — both personally and professionally.
Megan, founder of A New Path and creator of a practical grief workbook and planner for the first year after loss, shares compassionate insights on navigating life after major change, loss, and transition. Together, Chris and Megan discuss how grief extends beyond death, touching career shifts, identity changes, relationships, and every major life transition we experience.
This conversation dives into:
How change and loss are deeply connected
Navigating the first year of grief with clarity and compassion
Practical tools for organizing life after loss
The role of reflective writing and grief-informed practices
How approaches like Brainspotting support emotional healing
Creating space for grief in workplaces and everyday life
If you’re coping with loss, supporting someone grieving, or seeking grounded guidance on healing and rebuilding after life changes, this episode offers both validation and practical direction.
Grief is not the end of your story — it’s the beginning of a new path forward.
🎧 Listen now and take your next step from survival toward empowered healing.

Rebuilding After Emotional Abuse: A Mother’s Journey to Advocacy and Empowerment with Gail Showalter

Leaving a narcissistic relationship was only the beginning of Gail Showalter’s story.
In this episode, Gail shares her journey of surviving emotional abuse, raising three children, and rebuilding her life from the ground up. But she didn’t stop at survival.
She went back to school.She wrote a book.She started an organization to help other women break free from abuse.
We talk about:
• The subtle patterns of narcissistic control and gaslighting• The grief of losing the life and identity you thought you had• Raising children while healing from trauma• Going back to school later in life to reclaim your future• Writing a book as part of the healing process• Turning personal pain into advocacy and structured support for women
This conversation is about resilience — but more than that, it’s about rebuilding with intention.
Gail’s story is proof that grief can be a catalyst for purpose.
If you’re navigating emotional abuse, identity loss, or starting over later in life, this episode will remind you that it’s never too late to rewrite your story.

How to Retrain Your Brain After Trauma with Cedric Bertelli

Why do certain memories still trigger anxiety, fear, or emotional reactions—even years later?
In this episode, I sit down with Cedric Bertelli, founder of the Emotional Health Institute, to explore the science behind emotional memory and how our brains encode fear.
Cedric explains why many emotional triggers aren’t just “mindset issues,” but deeply learned responses stored in emotional memory. We discuss how phobias, trauma responses, and anxiety are formed—and how they can be unlearned through emotional retraining.
In this conversation, we explore:
• How emotional memories are created in the brain• Why talk therapy doesn’t always resolve emotional triggers• The difference between intellectual understanding and emotional learning• Emotional plasticity and retraining fear responses• How anxiety can be healed at the root—not just managed
If you’ve ever wondered why you logically “know you’re safe” but still feel triggered, this episode will give you a powerful new perspective on healing.
Because transformation doesn’t just happen in thought—it happens in emotional memory.

Sudden Loss of a Spouse: What Helps, What Hurts, and How to Show Up with Heidi Dunstan

What do you say to someone who’s grieving—when you’re afraid of saying the wrong thing?
In this episode, I’m joined by Heidi Dunstan, a certified grief educator, to talk about the real-life impact of sudden loss, what widows and grievers actually need, and why so many people disappear when grief enters the room.
Heidi shares her personal story of losing her husband suddenly just two days after Christmas and the day before her 40th birthday—and how that experience revealed how unprepared most people are to support someone in grief.
We talk about:
Why people avoid grievers (and how to have the courage to show up anyway)
What to say when you don’t have the words
What NOT to say (and why common platitudes can cause real harm)
How to offer support in practical, specific ways (not “call me if you need anything”)
How judgment shows up in grief—and what true compassion looks like
If you’re grieving, supporting someone who is, or you’ve ever frozen up unsure of what to do—this conversation will help you show up with more confidence, care, and humanity. Because grief doesn’t need fixing. It needs presence.